Time for a postgame look, it's your LA Clippers. This is Clippers Locker
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Breaking down today's action with the pre and post game voice. If you're LA
Clippers, They're locking in every game every night, Adam Osland, the Clippers
come through late. They outscore the Pistons by eleven in the fourth quarter thanks
to PG thirteen and some timely free throws throughout this one, and they win
one twelve to one oh six over the Pistons. At Crypto dot com Arena,
welcome in to your postgame show. I'm at a Moslin. Coming up,
we'll have Clippers talk on AM five to seventy LA Sports if you want
to get on early age six six ninety eight seven two five seventy eight six
six ninety seven two five seventy. But before we get back to Carlo Jimenez,
let's pause ten seconds for station identification. Here on the Los Angeles Clippers
Audio Network, this is LA Clippers Basketball. AM five to seventy KLAC Los
Angeles ninety eight seven KYSR HD two Los Angeles and iHeartRadio station. All Right,
Carlo, I'm gonna spin this in the positive direction. The Clippers just
won a ballgame where they had zero offensive rebounds. Somehow, they came through
late, They played their best when they had to, and Paul George a
huge bounce back performance. You know, Adam, we've been talking about this
team's ability to win in different ways. They just want to test themselves.
They said, let's see, we've never played a game in franchise history where
we haven't had an offensive rebound seef we can win one, and it got
a win in this one. It was an impressive performance for a team that
struggled for most of the night. But like this Pisson team has dealt with
all season long, at them closing games has been a tough run for a
young group in Detroit, the tenth youngest team in the NBA, and the
Clippers were able to capitalize late. Paul George turned it on. Was thirty
three points, a couple of big three pointers, the monstrous throwdown Kawhi Leonard
really kept them afloat there in that third quarter, kept them within arm's reach.
I thought Westbrook was great off the bench to start and James Harden once
again deal in addition with his eight assists. It was a great group win
by the Clippers. Yes, there's a lot to clean up, but learning
in victories is the positive in this one, no doubt, and big kudos
to coach Lou for staying small because the Clippers were able to rotate much better
on the perimeter. You mentioned it, but after starting seven to fourteen from
distance, the Pistons were just two for their last sixteen from three. I
mean, it was a whole other team and gotta give coach Lou a ton
of credit. I think you also have to give Russell Westbrook and James Harden
a ton of credit Adham because they had the assignment of taking on during late
in that game, kind of sandwiching him on the defensive end, he wasn't
really a factor despite the lack of height for the Clippers, and that translated
to some great defense. I thought Terrence man was in his twenty four minutes
on his on ball defense in this one. Harden was able to swipe at
the basketball out having a mere coffee, I mean a block, a steal
in twelve points. The Clippers defense with coffee out there in that small ball
lineup. I feel like Adam he really allows that lineup to thrive because of
the way he plays defense, and it's one of the more dominant groups in
the NBA up and down. I mean, you think about those five players
in Westbrook, Hard and George Leonard and Coffee. Those are five great defenders
that the Clippers have on the floor. Yeah, the versatility with this squad
is invaluable, as is a mere Coffee. I want to say he had
eight of his twelve points in that fourth quarter, a couple of key three
pointers, and the Clippers knocked him down at the line just one miss free
throw twenty five for twenty six. They go on to win by six.
But big brother Jake, he had him win him by five. We're still
giving him full credit for that. That's a heck of a call. Said
that early on in the ballgame. Clippers with a one to twelve to one
zero six victory over the Detroit Pistons Monday, Monday Monday, there's taken on
that tim Wolves right here at Crypto dot Com Arena tiptime at seven thirty pregame
show starting at six thirty. Carlo Jimenez great call see on Monday. See
you Monday, Adam who good win for the Clips and big brother Jake Warner
ask him the lottery numbers next time. Man, if you are going to
Vegas being bring h it's still early. Bring ja big brother Jake Warner with
you early for everyone. I need the smelling salts too. Clippers win by
six over the Pistons. More postgame coming up next right here on the Los
Angeles Clippers Audio Network. They want to bring a banner with them to the
into It doll More LA Clippers Basketball on the LA Clippers Audio Network. Paul
George with fifteen of his thirty three points in the fourth quarter as the Clippers
would come back and pull away late to win one swelve to one oho six
over the Pistons. I'm Adam Oslin. Welcome back into your postgame locker room
show coming up on a five to seven E LA Sports. We'll have Clippers
stock for you eight six six ninety eight seven two five seventy eight six six
ninety seven two five seventy More of you, less of me, the better.
My voice has been failing me. Clippers were down by nine at the
half in that third quarter, though some signs of life from the claw Kawhi
Leonard Leonard right out Broadway. He packed it with a left hand. Can
the claw wake come up? Leonard? Right wing pops for three you bets,
can you do that? Jailing? Leonard picks up the mask, walk
the hardwood, takes it down the left alley, barging his way in to
the paint, trying to finish. He's hacked in the act. Open the
arm Kawhi with eleven in the third quarter, and the Clippers had it down
to just a five point lead for Detroit heading into the fourth, but the
man of the hour in a big comeback performance after a couple of weeks of
having some shooting struggles out there. It was good to see Paul George get
off the snide and style, especially down the stretch of the fourth. George
at the top, with eight to shoot, drives down lane right handed,
lamp popping in DG thirteen's got twenty. George strolling into the front courd crossed
so a left hand flying to the ram pots a jumper near wing rattles it
through DG thirteen makes it a two possession game. George on the right wings
Herco's left hand at the chop twitch John by Ivy one on one, takes
it into the paint, turns the corner, slams it over the top of
Durn. Plus the foul Paul George snatching souls as he tripped police in the
paint, the hoop and the harm Leonard left base on Clipper's trying to add
more. George right wing three perfect Clippers up ten, Leonard right wing working
on Cunningham back to the basket through a double team. George opened straight away
three buckets back to back from downtown thirty one for George. George left angle
with two, got a hoist to the rim with one, the right hand
lapsteaks through Paul George bail out bucket PG. Thirteen with fifteen of US thirty
three points in the fourth quarter, and the Clippers go on to win and
survive one twelve to one oh six over the Detroit Pistons at home at Crypto
where they will be Monday night taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves, a huge Western
Conference showdown. More on that plus Clippers style coming up on a five to
seventy LA Sports. You're listening to the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network loading Clippers
fully loaded with Clippers fans. This is LA Clippers basketball. You're listening to
the LA Clippers on the LA Clippers Audio Network. Well, it wasn't easy,
but it was a victory. Clippers improved to thirty five and sixteen and
twenty and five at home as they win by six over the Detroit Pistons at
Crypto, Welcome back into your postgame show. I'm at a Moslin Hey.
Clippers got some help. Dallas took down the OKC Thunder today. We love
an update of the Western Conference standings coming up on a m five to seven
e. LA's Sports with Clippers Talk eight six six nine eight seven two five
seventy eight six six, ninety seven two five to seventy Kawhi Leonard with twenty
four points, seven to eighteen, shooting PG thirteen your game high thirty three,
fourteen of twenty four. I like that twenty four number. He put
him up four of thirteen from the outside. I like that thirteen number he
was firing. With a bounce back performance from Paul George, who had fifteen
of his thirty three points in the fourth quarter, James Harden with fourteen.
He also came alive when it mattered most. Russell Westbrook with thirteen points off
the bench, a mere coffee, eight of his twelve coming in the fourth
quarter, a couple of clutch three pointers. Still looking for an update on
Norman Palell. He would leave the game with what appeared to be a blow
to the head, a lasser and he would be carried into the locker room.
We're hoping for a speedy recovery from Norm. We'll have an update coming
up. Clippers next ball game Monday night. They're taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves,
oh and one against them so far this season. They didn't have Big
Zoo for that one. He only had to play nineteen minutes. The Clippers
went small. It worked, They rotated better on the perimeter. Defensively,
he should have plenty for Rudy Gobert left in the tank. On Monday night,
tiptime is at seven thirty. Your pregame show will start at six thirty.
Outside of Los Angeles, we were leaving you until then. Coming up
next here on a five seventy LA Sports, we got Clippers talk. This
has been LA. Clippers basketball really good on multitude of levels. Don't miss
a moment all season long. On their official home. Join us next time
on the LA Clippers Audio Network. Hello Clippers fans, if you're gonna go
for it, if that's what you want to do, you do. Welcome
the Clippers Talk. Your first chance to react to all the action of Clippers
basketball doing to hear every episode, Subscribe to Clippers Talk on iHeartRadio or wherever
you podcast differentation. You hear me right now, your host on your home
for the Clippers, they were in attack mode, Adam Ostley. The Clippers
find a way through Paul George's thirty three points fifteen coming in the fourth to
win one twelve to one oh six at home. Another game with mattiname madness
against the Pistons. Welcome into Clippers Stock. I'm Adam Oslin to a six
six nine eight seven two five seventy eight six six nine eight seven two five
seventy is the phone number coming up? I don't know who's coming on,
but Chuck Mackler or Will Updyke will be here. You'll hear from the head
coach and Paul George postgame after a big bounce back performance, bouncing back from
a week and a half worth of games where he just has been struggling with
the shot possibly related to the groin injury. He pushed through it. He
has been He played thirty six minutes. They were all necessary, as he
had fifteen of his thirty three down the stretch, a huge dunk two hand
in Remrocker it was an a one as well. Knocked down some three pointers
and kept the Pistons at bay enough to find a way to come through and
win this ball game that the Clippers quite frankly had to have. And when
you look at some of the numbers in this box score, it is astounding
that the Clippers were able to get the victory. They lost the points in
the paint battle sixty eight to thirty four. The Pistons had twice the amount
of points in the paint. The Pistons started off this game seven of fourteen
from three. After that they were just two of sixteen. You could say
it's the law of averages, but they've been a top three to three point
shooting team in twenty twenty four, going back to January first, the last
two games they have nuke teams shooting sixty percent from the outside. So I
was wondering at some point would they ever be able to turn it off,
would the Clippers find a way to defend this hot shooting three point team,
a team that just lost six players brought in six new ones at the trade
deadline. Guys who are playing for something because all of a sudden they have
a new coach to impress and Monty Williams change of scenery can do wonders.
And they've been playing good basketball. They won the last two games. They
blew out the Kings in Sacramento through hot shooting and boards, and the Clippers
somehow won a game where they got out rebounded by twenty two and fourteen to
zero on offensive rebounds. The amount of times you win a ballgame when a
team gets up twenty more shots than you is few and far between. If
you're wondering what saved the Clippers, one, they only had three turnovers in
the second half after eight in the first half. Two or one A,
one B. It was them going twenty five of twenty six at the free
throw line. That's how they won the game. Not sexy, not pretty,
but they forced the issue at the rim. They got to the charity
stripe and missed just one. That's it. It wasn't It wasn't an impressive
performance. I have to be honest about that. You're down nine at the
half, you're down five going into the fourth quarter, and even when they
got up double digits, they relinquished the lead. It was touch and go.
It was down to five points a few different times, but they pulled
through late thanks to PG thirteen stepping up late again, fifteen points in the
four quarter, thirty three points in the ballgame after he was coming off some
miserable shooting performances a game against the Pelicans on Wednesday where he started zero for
nine. He and Kawhi Leonard combined to go five for no seven for twenty
five in that game. Today, Kawhi Leonard was seven of eighteen, shooting
three three pointers twenty four points. Paul George, with his thirty three,
went four to thirteen from the outside. Please it's the only way, and
I gave him credit Wednesday for continuing to shoot. The only way to get
out of a shooting slump is to put him up, and he got up
twenty four shots. Sometimes that can be the difference. I remember Kawhi was
struggling a little bit. Now, this was much earlier in the season,
of course, because last two and a half months not many can say they've
played better than Kawhi Leonard in the league. But he had that game and
it was the worst loss of the season. I understand that against the Denver
Nuggets, Reggie Jackson, DeAndre Jordan former Clippers taking over late an inexcusable loss.
But Kawhi got up. I want to say twenty five shots in that
game, might have only made ten of them. But from then on is
when he started this hot streak. He got it out of his system.
That's what has to happen sometimes. Paul George, I'm hoping, just did
the same. I know he's been banged up. This Clippers team has been
between he and a Visa Zubots. I know there's just a couple of games
left till the All Star break. But you can't let up now. You
can't give in, and you can't lose at home. I don't care about
a matinee start, I really don't. To the Detroit Pistons, why do
I say you can't use it as an excuse because people complain that they have
so many of these early weekend home games. Okay, if you have so
many of them, how are you not used to it by now? How
does it catch you by surprise. Still, that doesn't make a lot of
sense to me. And the Clippers were up twelve to two to start,
but then Detroit turned things around quickly. That hot shooting from three, the
great equalizer got them pointed in the right direction, and the Clippers were playing
uphill down nine and a half. Didn't even give you any highlights of the
half. Clippers just weren't good enough. They weren't focused enough. Credit coach
Lou who made the adjustments with going small so they had more switchability and versatility
along the perimeter to make sure they could stay with their man regardless of where
the screen was coming from, and put a hand up on three pointers that
won them the game. That free throws. But the Piston's going just two
of sixteen from three after starting seven or fourteen. Let the Clippers hold on
one twelve to one six. You'll take the victories, don't get me wrong,
but there has to be a different level of focus Monday night against the
Minnesota Timberwolves, and I think there will be. Speaking of coach Lou normOn,
Powell took a blow to the head early in the fourth quarter and it
was scary to say the least dangerous play. He was amongst the trees,
took an elbow and if you're watching it, I mean it was uh one
of those where most people would like to turn away. It was a dangerous
looking play and Norman Powell had to be helped to the locker room. He
was wildly There was a laceration, there was a lot of fluid, a
lot of blood. It was unfortunate. It was a scary sight. But
we do have an update postgame. I want to hear from coach lou on
Norman Powell, because I know Clipper Nation was holding their collective breath on getting
this injury update. Hey Ty, how's Norm doing? Then? What happened
during came down after rebound with his elbow, hit him in his here,
split him up some stitches. But he'll be okay. And there you go,
short and sweet, there he'll be okay. Norm's one of the tougher
guys on the team. So you see him go down. We wonder what
that would do to the Clippers. It could be deflating. They were just
starting to take control of the ballgame. They played through it. It's not
easy you see your teammate go down like that. You see Norm Powell go
down like that, so good news there getting stitched up. It was quite
the gash. It was brutal, it was tough, it was gruesome.
You don't often see that in basketball, it happens sometimes. So it looks
like Norm Powell is on the mend already, and that is a great sign
Clipper Nation. Speaking of, let's start things off with Mark and Huyton Beach
on Clipper stop without them all. Hey, I'd rather have an ugly win
than an exciting loss any day of the week, you know. Yeah,
And so hey, you know how you were mentioning Kawhi Leonard's not getting much
for the MVP stuff. I took that to heart, and so I watched
Game Time and ESPN and all of those so called experts and ones that sometimes
even vote, and what they came up with their mindset definition of an MVP
is someone that's just outstanding on the team, and they said the reason A
couple of them alluded to the reason why Kawhi Leonard wasn't getting it as well,
He's got James Harden and Paul George, so he's not really there's three
of them, so that's why he's not as valuable, and all I could
think of was, really, that's your definition because he's the best one and
doing all these numbers, but because there's two other good ones around him,
he doesn't get the MV considered. You have to be an outstanding player like
Gillis, Alexander or Jokic with no one else that's doing as good in order
to get that. Funny, because I just saw Jamal Murray close out the
Lakers with Jokic on the floor the other night. To act like he doesn't
have help, to act like Giannison, Denni Koupo doesn't have help with Damian
Lillard and Chris Middleton, it's just false. So I don't get why they're
they're shifting the goalpost just for Kawhi Leonard, especially when you take into account
he's by far the best defender of the three. Maybe not by far with
Paul George, but he is their most important defender. They are ten points
better per one hundred possessions defensively when he's out there. They drop from being
a top three defense when he's on the court to a bottom five defense.
To overlook that in twenty twenty four, I know it's advanced numbers oh okay.
I mean the coaches, the front office guys, they look at this
stuff. They bring up this stuff on broadcasts all the time. So it's
time for the riders in the media to get with the times. I would
say, hey, Mark, yeah, I could quote, I can quote
Rodney Dangerville. We don't get no respect, no respect. I tell you
that's all right. They'll earn it the old fashioned way, just getting w's
Mark, I appreciate the phone call. Hottest team in the NBA going back
to November seventeenth, they have won thirty two of their last forty one games.
Now Clippers win one twelve to one to OZHO six, survive in advanced
style over the Detroit Pistons. Today Monday, they'll have the Minnesota Timberwolves to
tangle with at Crypto tip time for that one's at seven thirty. We'll have
your pregame show starting at six thirty eight six six ninety eight seven two five
seventy eight six six ninety eight seven two five seventy or get to me on
follow out of May on X or Twitter. More Clippers stop next year on
a m five to seventy LA Sports LA Clippers Basketball is on the two to
one three Era continues. You're listening to the LA clip first on the LA
Clippers Audio Network. Clippers win one twelve to one oh six. They escape
against the Detroit Pistons. I should say late in the ballgame, Paul George
was fantastic fifteen of US thirty three and the fourth they were down five heading
into it. They win by six, one twelve to one oh six over
the Pistons. Welcome back into Clippers Talk. I'm at a mouslin to eight
six six ninety seven two five seventy eight sixty six nine eight seven two five
seventy is of the phone number coming up. We will have Will Updyke gone
from clips in Dip. But first let's get back to your phone calls.
Morris in Long Beach, Morris here on Clippers top with that Amueslin, what's
up? You know something, Adam. Sometimes you get sick and tired of
being sick and tired, and that's what's happened with the Detroit Pistons. I
saw them the other night against Sacramento. I got a lot of respect for
Sacramento, particularly with that guy. Fuck they guys the team that started off
the earlier, the first part of the show, Detroit Pitts, that's not
the same team. That's not the same team. They could easily won this
game today, but the Clippers got something going for him. Madam. It
kind of kissed me out. It really doesn't matter what the score is.
We just know they're gonna win, okay. And one of the problems that
Kawhi has is he's not super spectacular scoring ninety points. But they don't give
that food no respect for playing defense because he's got more steals than he's got
fouls, and nobody else can see that. So I'm with Cohi as the
MVP talk. You really look at the team. The team is winning,
and after Monday, we ain't looking back at him in terms of the flots
in the first place. We ain't looking back after Monday. All right,
you be hang your something. I know a guy who said the Clippers by
mid February would be at the top of the standings in the West. I
think it was Morrison long Beach. I would have kept him on, but
he hung of himself. I mean Mike drop Phone, drop landline drop.
Clippers currently a half game back of the one spot behind who the Minnesota timber
Wolves. So They got some help earlier today as the OKC thunder would fall
to the new look Dallas Mavericks Big one forty six to one eleven. So
the Clippers are in the two spot currently by winning percentage, a little bit
up on the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers have one less victory, but they
have one less loss winning percentage favors that, so Denver in the three spot.
Okay seed drops of the four spot in the West the Phoenix Suns,
who are hot seven to three or they are seven and three in their last
ten ball game. Sacramento also seven and three their last ten. They're in
the sixth seed currently. That's your top six teams that aren't worried so far
about the play in tournament. The Clippers, they got to play their game,
obviously, and that means being more focused. Carlo Jimenez asked me late
in the ballgame, what do they need to do Monday night to avoid disaster?
And Hey, if you lose to Minnesota, it's a close ballgame.
There's no shame in that. If you play the right way, you can
live with the results, as coach Lee would say. But they were floating
with disaster against the Pistons. They really were. I mean to be out
shot by twenty to be out rebounded by twenty two, and to still win
the game, to be doubled up in points in the paint, it's remarkable.
I said the other day after the Clippers really played poorly against the Pelicans.
Give them credit just like the Pistons in this game. But I said
it on Clips and Dip that you know, the Clippers are so talented they
could play their D game and still get a win against the Detroit Pistons,
And I think that's what we saw. But I agree with Morris and long
Beach. It's not the same Detroit Pistons team. They're gonna get more victories
against some of the upper echelon teams and squads in the NBA like they have
been. They beat Sacramento recently, they beat the OKC Thunder recently. They
are sick and tired of losing. Maybe they've turned a corner because they're three
point shooting. It's been at the top of the league over the last what
month? Now, Tom leaving the ball game? Tom, you're on Clipper
stoff with out of ma's and Hi, Tom, Hey, how's it going?
Guy's beyond. Yeah, I have a lot of the same feelings about
the game today in terms of focus. And I agree with you on the
hired of the excuses about afternoon games. Play enough of them, we should
get good at them. But yeah, the rebounding was atrocious and it was
really rough, honestly in the first three quarters to watch, Like the number
of second chance opportunities that the Pistons had was crazy, and it didn't seem
to matter who was on the floor at center, whether we're at small ball,
like and and part of that, and like, is that a focus
thing? Is that an effort thing? And every time that players talk about
what the team needs to improve on post game win or lost, it's always
rebounds. But it doesn't seem to be getting better. So I'm wondering is
there a solution that you can think of for that beyond just locking in and
focused. Yeah, thank you. I appreciate the phone call, Tom.
I think you know, energy and focus intersect a little bit, those two
things go together, and I didn't see enough of it. They got off
to the twelve two hot start. We thought, Okay, they're gonna put
those Matine madness narratives to rest. Finally, now they let the Pistons get
right back into the ballgame. Clippers led by just one after one, they're
down by nine at the half, a miserable second quarter being outscored by ten.
They did go small, though, and you sacrifice boards doing that.
It was successful because it let them switch everything on the perimeter, and that
is the main reason outside of them just going cold. The Detroit Pistons,
after starting seven or fourteen from three, winch just two of sixteen the rest
of the way, which probably was the biggest difference in the ballgame, because
you look at a lot of these numbers. The Clippers had no business winning
this. You're out rebounded by twenty two, a team scores twice as many
points in the paint issue, and you still find a way to win.
But the charity stripe was kind to them, twenty five of twenty six there,
it's ninety six percent from the free throw stripe. And that's a way
to win ball games too. But I do think they were being outworked.
They out talented Detroit. But again, what did Kawhi Leonard say in Detroit
after that game last week where they only won by eleven. They were down
by fourteen early on he said, We've been getting by too much on just
having more talent. It needs to be about execution first. That's what makes
you a championship contender. They still need to build better habits. There is
a lot of work to be done. You like the record, you like
where they're trending, but it's still February. There's still thirty games left.
So this Clippers team, I don't know. I'm not gonna say it's back
to the drawing board, but they're gonna have to be much better than this
Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mitch in New Jersey, Mitch, what's
up here on Clipper stopt for that? Am also? I Mitch, hey
man, Well it just shows you that the Pistons missed a lot of shots
today with all those normals you just gave. We gotta start games at a
quicker pace now, no money, slow starts. We're playing for the first
seed on Monday night. It's just great. Who would believe it? After
a slow start, playing best basketball, we're gonna win it this see you.
I like they make that pick up some trade. They signed some wing
for cash. I believe it's from Denver. Yeah, it was, no
they like the draft. You know, I want to see my bench.
I'm sorry. I never let people talk, you know, I just keep
going on and on and I never hear your response. I don't. I'm
not learning anything, am I never noticed? Mitch. You're fine, my
friend. I punched up your call for a reason. Continue right, And
one more thing, I can see him getting getting a game with some book
p Jaytaka. I mean, I always liked this game. He was a
good read. Rather why he's on the fence, he heard, I guess
he's powers because he can't be the starter. Now when you got a Hall
of Famer who's playing still playing like an MVP and I'm kwite Lena MVP this
year. You watch all right, Mitch, I appreciate the phone call.
Yeah. Bringing up PJ Tucker is interesting. At one point in the game,
I was tweeting out put him in. If there's one guy that wants
to play hard, and once some minutes we know it's PJ Tucker. Now,
Coach Lou said yesterday at practice that he'll get his opportunity. I'm not
giving up on this guy. I'm not. Body of work has to mean
something. I know he's thirty eight or thirty nine now, but I've watched
him over the past season. I watched him last year in Philly. He
plays good defense. Still, I think he still has utility on this Clippers
team. He can still make an impact. And when you have seventeen games
coming up in March, shout out, Choke Monckler, You're gonna have to
bring in some fresh bodies. You're gonna have to have I think Bones Highland,
Kobe Brown and PJ. Tucker get in some minutes. Brandon Boston.
It's gonna be a brutal schedule, an unforgiving schedule. And we've seen what
the Clippers look like tired that Pelicans game on Wednesday. They didn't look like
themselves. And when you have seventeen games in March, that means your toughest
stretch of games is right before the playoffs. You can't burn out Kawhi and
Paul George. Then they're gonna have to get more rest to be fresh for
the playoffs. So Coach Lou's gonna have to dig deep into his bench.
I expect PJ. Tucker matchup dependent to get some minutes here in there.
I do, and I'm interested to see it. And he's got a lot
of attitude and norn Fowell, who it sounds is feeling better, got stitched
up. He said yesterday, I practice that this guy can be an enforcer
in a playoff series. When the game slows down. That's when he's at
his best in the half court, and that's what the playoffs are all about,
and he can keep guys from getting to their spots. He is still
strong, he has enough lateral quickness left, so I'm not giving up on
PJ. Tucker. When we return, we'll get to will Updyke of clips
and dip. After the Clippers win one twelve to one oh six over the
Pistons, that Manhattan or matt Ene madness. They ain't gotta see the Knicks
again. But yeah, it was a struggle for the Clippers, as it
has been in these afternoon games. They're almost done with them. As we
like to say, the Into It Dome can't come soon enough. I'm outam
mo Ousland. He listen to the Clippers talk here on n FI seventy LA
Sports. Do you want to bring a banner with them to the Into It
Down? More LA Clippers basketball on the LA Clippers Audio Network. Clippers come
through when they need to. They get fifteen of the thirty three points of
Paul George in the fourth quarter and they win one twelve to one oh six
over the Pistons. At Crypto dot Com Arena, I'm Adam Oslin. Welcome
back in to Clipperstock here on AM five to seventy LA Sports coming up.
You're gonna hear from PG thirteen post game, but right now join the shows.
Will Updyke from Clips and Dip because it was a victory, so Will
comes on and for a little bit of Clips and Double Dip here on Clipperstock.
Will thanks for doing this well. I've been a little bit harsh on
this Clippers team, even in a victory, because guys, the goal isn't
to beat the Detroit Pistons in February. It's to win a championship. So
you gotta start building those habits. There's thirty games left and if you want
some of that in game load management where you can actually rest Paul George and
Kawhi Leonard in game, so they're fresher in March. With those seventeen games,
you gotta put teams away. They were up twelve too. They let
the Pistons into it. And really up until midway through the fourth quarter,
the Clippers were in big trouble. How did you feel about the ballgame?
Am I being too hard on them? Man? I? You know,
I feel like people are pretty disappointed in this in this game. I'm just
glad that we got out with the win. I'm glad that we got the
Paul George game that we that we so wanted to see since that groin injury.
And you know, it's You're just not gonna blow every team under five
hundred out. It's just the way that it is. It's the NBA.
There's still skilled guys on every single team. It was a noon game,
which is so weird for this Clippers team for whatever reason, even though they
should be used to it by playing more than any other team in the league.
Yeah. But you know one thing I did I will say that I
really liked in this game is we saw the sort of the textbook way that
teams have been giving the Clippers trouble, which is really physical defense and the
Clippers offense has kind of been falling apart. I love the way that in
the third and fourth quarter they started getting downhill aggressively, really forcing the issue,
and in a game that had a weird whistle. They put the rest
in a position where they had to make the call when you're going to the
rim with those sort of intentions like you're gonna get the call. So I
like that the way, the way that they were able to adjust and kind
of get back in this one. I agree, though you you know you
would like to see some some fourth quarter rests. Obviously, it was a
bummer to see norm go down, but I'm glad we got to win.
And here's the thing. I'm not gonna stand up here and make excuses if
this team wants to be the number one seed. This was not This was
not a best in the West performance. But we are in that weird period
of time before the All Star break where you see a lot of teams,
even the really good teams, even locked in teams, start to slip a
little bit. And I think it's just I think it's natural, and I
think as long as they're still putting away the wins, I'm willing to I'm
willing to live with it for right now. I'm willing to overlook some of
the flaws for right now. Yeah, I think that's fair, that's smart,
And they did get to the free throw line over and over again,
and while they got doubled up sixty eight to thirty four points in the paint,
it doesn't count all the free throws they got because they got in the
paint and got fouled. So the number may be a little bit skewed and
not represent the true regressiveness of this team in the second half and down the
stretch where they were putting pressure on the rim, and you have to have
that Paul George, of course, when he got to the free throw line
once, it was on a technical free throw, I believe, or no,
it was on the and one he had after getting a tech. It
was on the and one. Yeah, he's the one with the technical in
this one. But yeah, the officials, neither team was satisfied with,
I think the way this game was being called. But I was very happy
to see Paul George drop thirty three when I thought, you know, if
he's if he's shooting like he was Wednesday against the Pelicans, should he be
playing right now? I mean, I wasn't sure he should even go against
the Pistons. And he looked fine, He looked good out there, So
I think that's probably the most encouraging thing to come out of this one.
A guy who's been dealing with a groin injury led them in scoring and in
the fourth quarter. Yeah, and this is like I say that this is
the Paul performance that we wanted, not necessarily that we needed. I mean,
we needed it certainly to win this game, but we know who Paul
George is. He's had a phenomenal season. Obviously sucks that, you know,
things have slipped since the groin injury, But this, I mean,
this was so reassuring, especially after that performance against the Pelicans where I thought
he looked he looked so out of swords and not just like the terrible shooting.
I thought like defensively he looked a little off. He just didn't quite
look right on the floor. So to see this, I mean, it
just it helps sort of put some of those fears to the back of your
mind. And now with like a little bit more rest, I'm just feeling
very optimistic about where he's going to be, especially coming out of that All
Star break, And this could be kind of a he needs, which this
team needs so bad. They're an older team. They just came up a
brutal road trip again, I'm not trying to stand up here and just make
excuses for the Clippers, but like, it's been a tough couple of weeks.
It's been a tough road to hoe. Yeah. No, they're in
desperate need of some rest, especially because of PG being banged up, especially
because of eats A Zubats who only had to play nineteen minutes in this one.
Because the smart move was to go small and rotate along the perimeter and
switch everything against the hot team from beyond the arc and the Pistons, it
worked. The small ball worked. A Mere Coffee once again clutch in the
fourth quarter two three pointers, knock down his free throws. A Mere Coffee
has been a godsend for this Clippers team. What a pickup they got this
season. Though it felt like that a little bit because he was totally out
of the rotation the first month and then a Mere Coffee gets back into it
and he's playing the best basketball of his career right now. Yeah. Look,
I mean this is the you know, this is one of the biggest
success stories of the Clippers' internal development. Like, the guy who's been around
the team forever was really unclear where and how he would fit into this rotation,
I mean, getting a more prominent feature when PG is down, you
know, one of your best players out and him rising to the occasion I
think is like one of the has been, you know, one of the
best stories of this Clippers team this year because guys like that, I mean,
they don't you know, you don't need him even to be all star
level guys, which he's not gonna get there. But as much as I
love him here, Coffee, but solid role players on team friendly contracts is
something that can extend a championship window and can get you through the doldrums of
the seasons, can get you through games like this where you know, if
we don't have a mere Coffee on this one, who do we win it?
You know, like, do we ultimately put it away if the game
is the exact same. I don't know. I doubt it. He's I
mean, and he's a huge momentum guy, and yeah, I don't know.
I'm really impressed with what we've gotten out of Coffee this year. And
he is one of those guys I keep saying this, but like, depending
on what he does in the playoffs, I'm just happy that we have him
for another year under contract. Because he could be looking at a serious upgrade.
It's funny Lakers fans have been talking about d Lo playing himself out of
the trade rumors and they held on to him. A mere Coffee did the
same thing this season after he was traded during the summer in a trade that
was eventually nixed in the Malcolm Brogden move. And thank goodness because with him
playing this good, it put less pressure on the Clippers to have to make
a move that maybe it would have been a lateral move or a slight downgrade
in some way, you know, a mere Coffee being that wing and he
was guarding a four at times in this game late in the fourth quarter.
Like his versatility is so needed right now. I'm just really happy for him.
I'm happy that he remains a Clipper and, like you said, a
very team friendly contract. Here remains on. Could this be just the last
couple of games, maybe coming out of the tough road trip seven game road
you going six and one, maybe the calm before the storm for a team
that is ramping up to try to take first place back from the Minnesota Timberwolves
on Monday night, Will, Is that what we're looking at right now?
I think so, and I hope that they're I mean, you know,
like I said, it's understandable if they were tired. It's understandable a lot
of things about this game. They're gonna have to come correct on Monday,
if you know, if they want that, if they want the number one
seed, and uh, you know, you get kind of a long break
coming up on the horizon. So they I would really like to see them
go all in on this one and come out with a win in a convincing
fashion. I'm also curious, do you think that they're gonna end up just
sticking with the small ball or will we see some some good Zoo stuff in
this In this Timberwolves matchup, I'm sure Zoo will get his opportunities since we
didn't see it last time out. That was the late scratch game for him
when we first found out about the calf injury or re injuring it or whatever
was going on there. But I think because he only played nineteen minutes,
he's even more primed for that game Monday night after being held under twenty minutes
in this game where they went small, And if he's effective out there,
you know, Coach Lou, he'll ride the hot hand. I'm guessing if
Vitza Zubots will get his opportunity to really try to shine against Rudy Gobert and
show all the growth that he has made this season, and hopefully he's just
in enough of a rhythm right now, still coming back recently from injury to
be up for a primetime performance against one of the best in the West.
Yeah, and I feel like we haven't gotten to see Zoo as featured in
the offense as he was prior to going down with the calf injury. And
that's another one of those things like when this offense starts to stall out when
they're playing these really large, physical defenses, it's just another look, it's
another move, another thing that you can do, sort of force the issue,
get the big man the ball, and get those paint touches, which
we know how successful they have been for this Clippers team. Clippers win one
twelve to one to six at home again the Detroit Pistons. Monday night,
they'll be taking on the Timberwolves seven thirty tips six thirty pre game. Will
Updyke has been our guest from Clips and Dip here on Clippers stock Big Will
Thanks for coming through my friend absolutely anytime. Let's go clip coming up next,
we'll close things out. You'll hear from PG. Thirteen and we'll get
to Katy Newton's casual corner. Clippers win by six over the Pistons. Sorry,
Eminem, we had to do it more. Clippers stock next. Every
Clipper game all season long, they didn't stop playing hard. You're listening to
the LA Clippers Audio Network streaming on the iHeartRadio aapp. The Clippers have won
their last five games following a loss. All right, that's a championship habit.
Keep building, Clippers. They win one twelve to one oh six over
the Pistons in a game that was a little too close for comfort for Clipper
Nation and myself. Well, they pulled through. Positive sounds like Norman Powell
will be okay, got some stitches. Yes, it was much more graphic
and r rated. Then hopefully it ends up being because they could use him
Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Have no idea at this point if he'll
be able to go. We're just hoping he's gonna be okay because physically that
was one of the tougher blows to the heads that I had seen in this
league on the season it is, and it's a credit to Norman Powell playing
among the trees like that and trying to do whatever he can in a small
ball lineup to grab rebounds in a game where the Clippers were out rebounded by
twenty two and didn't have one offensive rebound. Norman Powell, he always plays
so hard. He's always a professional out there and has been one of my
favorite players for some time, going back to the Toronto Raptors Championshi season when
Kawhi didn't give him the fist bump. I've just loved Norman Palle's work ethic.
I don't think anyone saw him reaching these heights when he was coming out
of UCLA. But he's a grinder. And he spoke yesterday about not getting
in the three point contest and being disappointed but not surprised because he's always been
overlooked. Well. I want to put the spotlight on him right now and
give him our well wishes hopefully he's okay, and also talk about the player
he's been for this Clippers team. This is someone who dropped forty points in
Game three of that playoff series last year in the first round without Kawhi without
PG. He stepped up and I expect more big moments from him, especially
because he is the king of the fourth for this Clippers team all season long,
almost shooting sixty percent from the field and fifty five percent from three in
the final period. But get well soon, Norman Powell tough one to see
him go down like that. In today's ballgame, listening to the Clippers talk
after they win one twelve to one oh six over the Pistons, let's hear
from Paul George, who dropped thirty three untiltally redeemed himself here he was postgame
on Ballet Sports with Christina Piggy Brian. I've got PG thirteen with me,
Paul. You guys were down in that third quarter and went small and really
flipped this game. How did that give you guys an edge? Scrappy when
we go small, we know we got a scrap. We did a great
job of team rebounding and defensively, I thought we did a great job as
just flying around big shot after big shot by you in the fourth quarter to
the tune of thirty three points in the game. How were you able to
take over when it accounted? I think I got them all out last Dame
came in, got rhythms. You know, the guys found me. I
was able to capitalize on open loads and then I found a rhythm early and
I was able to play it all the way through it. How about that
small ball lineup? How much confidence does it give you at this time of
year that you guys can win in different ways with different lineup. I think
that's the beauty of this team, putting this roster together. We're so versatile
and we just rely on one another. We know we're small, but again
we know we got each other's back when we're out there. We're great when
we're a big, big lineup, but we're great when we're a small lineup
as well. So shout out TU just trusting us out there. THI you
great game. A couple of things there from PG. You mentioned how he
got the bad shots out of his system. I was talking about that earlier.
You have to shoot yourself out of this. He may have done that
against the Pelicans. It was important to see kept the confidence up. He
kept putting them up. Eventually they start to fall and you find that rhythm
and then also, yes, there's more of a sense of desperation out there
and focus sometimes when you go small, because they know they don't have that
back line defense, so they have to be better with staying in front of
their man, they have to be better connected. Seeing that a few different
times this season, we're just going small creates more of a sense of urgency
for this Clippers team. It did. They got the victory. That is
the main thing coming out of this one. As a caller said earlier in
Mark, you'd rather win ugly than lose pretty baby. All right, before
we get out of here, I do want to hear from Katie Newton,
our producer extraordinaire. It's Katie Newton's casual NBA Corner where she asked me various
questions about the game and other things. It could be anything, Katie,
what you got today? Well today it's actually kind of off what PG was
talking about. But who are our smalls on the team, the guys who
aren't Big Zoo, who aren't Daniel Tice, who aren't Mason Plumbly, basically
like what's what's considered small under six? Okay, I'll give it. I'll
give you the guys who are out there that really turned the game. It
was Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, a mere coffee, James Harden, and
Paul George. So guys, well, Paul George is six's eight, six
' nine, he's spelt, he's thin, and he plays out on the
perimeter a lot. He can't get to the paint too. Doesn't get me
any calls. But you know, guys out there without a seven footer and
their average highter probably six five sixty six sixty seven. Like you said,
that's a small ball lineup, all right, but it creates more switchability and
that versatility for the Clippers. If that there has been their identity over the
last five years in the two one three era, it makes sense. I
would say between that three point shooting and a resilient bunch, that's what defines
them. They're gonna need all that against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night tiptime
at seven thirty, pre game at six thirty. Before we get out of
here, I do want to thank Ralph Lauer, Brian Seeman, know what
ego, Carlo and men is on the call, Big brother Jake Warner a
great call himself in a way, the callers of listeners. I met am
Alison we'll talk to you on Monday. The White was doing his thing.
All they want to do is win in La Win. I thought they gave
everything the head I'm very proud of. This has been Clippers Talk, the
official postgame reaction of the LA Clippers. God bless Paul George. Are you
not? It's a change. Don't miss an episode all season law. Go
to wherever you podcast and subscribe Today we'll have the show I Got you on
the iHeart Radio. You guys are great. Thank you for joining us for
another exciting broadcast of LA Clippers basketball